Dobbins stands by decision to pass on OTAs

If he had to do it all over again, Texans inside linebacker Tim Dobbins would have handled the past month exactly the same way.

But Dobbins on Tuesday acknowledged that not attending the Texans’ voluntary organized team activities disappointed some, including himself. Dobbins was the only healthy Texans player who did not attend.

“I’m pretty sure I let some of the guys down, but at the same time, I’m hoping they understand,” Dobbins said. “I hope they understand that I’m here and when I’m here, I’m giving them 110 percent of everything I have. There’s nothing left in the tank. So I don’t want them to have that doubt that I’m not going to be a part of this team and give all my effort on this team.”

Family time a ‘treat’

Dobbins informed the Texans of his decision before OTAs began and said coach Gary Kubiak expressed his disappointment.

“I had came here and worked out for like two days because he wanted me to, and I talked to him and he let me know then and there that he was disappointed,” Dobbins said. “But it was still my decision if I would come or not. He just let me know, if I was not here, he was going (to be) disappointed and that he expects me to be here.”

Dobbins said he missed OTAs because he needed to oversee a renovation project on his house in Nashville, Tenn. He said he demolished it himself and has been helping build it. Once he made the decision, he was careful to check with his agent to make sure the Texans couldn’t punish him for missing the practices.

While in Tennessee, he continued to work out on his own.

“It’s just more rest even though I was still working out,” Dobbins said. “But it’s still more rest and spending more time with my family. This was the longest time I’ve ever been with my family, which was a treat for me. But that’s pretty much about it.”

Contract not an issue

The Texans signed Dobbins to a one-year deal worth $905,000 this offseason, which includes a signing bonus of $65,000. He didn’t have incentives for attending workouts. The Texans give some players de-escalators for failing to complete workouts. Asked if he was making a statement about his contract, Dobbins said he was not.

Dobbins said he wasn’t especially concerned about the possibility of being demoted, either.

“My first goal here on this team is special teams, and I hope they know I know how to do that,” he said. “As far as being a starter or a backup, I feel like that’s (secondary). I feel like my role on this team is special teams. It’d be a positive thing for me to play on defense, but I have no control of that.”